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The differences between social services specialists and protective service specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a social services specialist, becoming a protective service specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $48,359 average annual salary of a social services specialist.
The top three skills for a social services specialist include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a protective service specialist are social work, child safety, and foster care.
| Social Services Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,359 | $50,293 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $24.18 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 154,022 | 81,211 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A Social Services Specialist provides social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions, or hospitals. They develop and implement specialized treatment programs.
Protective Service Specialists provide information to individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through child support services and employment opportunities. Most of these specialists recommend family services include parenting education, drug counseling, and financial base services. They review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for federal and state aid programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, and emergency assistance. Also, protective service specialists assist families with the resources that can help resolve the issues that risk the children's placement. They may even provide staff supervision about referrals obtained to ensure that they meet the criteria for services and intervention.
Social services specialists and protective service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Services Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,359 | $50,293 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Government |
There are a few differences between a social services specialist and a protective service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Social Services Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | California State University - Dominguez Hills | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between social services specialists' and protective service specialists' demographics:
| Social Services Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |